On August 2, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) flagged several severe vulnerabilities in a range of Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads. The central government agency warned that these vulnerabilities could potentially lead to spoofing attacks and the leakage of sensitive information from the affected devices.
CERT-In’s advisory highlighted that the vulnerabilities affect multiple Apple software versions, specifically iOS and iPadOS versions before 17.6 and 16.7.9, macOS Sonoma versions before 14.6, macOS Ventura versions before 13.6.8, macOS Monterey versions before 12.7.6, watchOS versions before 10.6, tvOS versions before 17.6, visionOS versions before 1.3, and Safari versions before 17.6.
The agency described these issues as “highly severe,” noting that they could allow attackers to access sensitive information, execute arbitrary code, bypass security restrictions, cause denial of service (DoS), and perform spoofing attacks on targeted systems.
In response to these threats, CERT-In urged all Apple users to promptly apply the necessary software updates provided by the company to mitigate any high-level risks. Apple released its latest security updates last week, and the details of the new software versions are available on its official website. Despite the warning, Apple has not confirmed any security risks from its side.
This isn’t the first time CERT-In has issued such a warning. In May, the agency flagged a similar high-level risk for iPhone and Apple users, cautioning that hackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to gain elevated access, bypass security measures, disclose sensitive information, and even take complete control of the devices.
CERT-In advised users to regularly monitor communications from Apple and stay updated on all advisories. Users should exercise caution when interacting with potentially malicious websites, links, or files, and ensure their devices are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
To enhance the security of their Apple devices, users are also encouraged to maintain strong passwords and regularly back up their data.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, staying vigilant and proactive about software updates and security measures is crucial for all Apple users.